title: Prevalence of root caries among ambulant older adults living in central Chile.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of root caries and the treatment needs in an ambulant population of older adults, living in the Maule Region, Chile.
  
  
  METHODS
  The source of primary data was the Regional Oral Health Survey. A random sample of 438 older adults, aged 65-74 years, living independently in the community was orally examined, and underwent an oral health interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This was a largely dentate population (74.9%). Dentate participants had 70.4% of their root surfaces with recession. Those with exposed root surfaces had an average of 29.8 root surfaces exposed. The root caries index (RCI) was 8.23%, and a mean of 0.21 and 0.55 root surfaces filled and decayed, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants had better oral health status than previously reported. Consistent with studies conducted in independent-living older adults, root caries occurred in a lower frequency among Chilean ambulant older adults. The proportion of unmet restorative needs could be reduced. Community-based preventive care programmes specifically tailored to older adults are needed to address this challenge.
authors.affiliation: Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre, Melbourne Dental School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Rodrigo J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Mariño
authors.affiliation: Melbourne Dental School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Chiang S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Talca, Talca, Chile.
authors.forename: Rodrigo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Giacaman
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005889:Gingival Recession; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D017213:Root Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012737:Sex Factors; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Chile; dental caries; older adults; treatment needs